Today's Opinions

When Pauline Abbott read my letter in the Roane County News requesting donations of daffodil bulbs to beautify the area below the Kingston Library, she called to volunteer some of hers.

I drove to her house to view the area and I could see that there was a great plenty. Before I could round up a platoon of Rotarians to dig, Mrs. Abbott called back. She had dug them herself. There were five grocery sacks full of bulbs waiting for pick up.

By JAMES “DUB” HARMON
Former District 2 County Commissioner
As a former Roane County commissioner representing District 2, I attended a joint meeting of the school board and county commission.

I asked then-director-of-schools Toni McGriff why the board was intending to build a new school for Dyllis near Oliver Springs instead of building it at DeArmond Crossing for Walnut Hills Elementary and Dyllis.

By GARY AYTES
Roane County Schools director
The State Report Card was released this spring, so it is a good time to update our citizens on the status of Roane County Schools.
The report card shows academic improvement and also shows many areas for growth.
Our greatest improvement was in math, where we received an A in value-added scores and a B in achievement.
Our goal this year will be to maintain the A and improve our achievement score.

In regard to the ongoing deliberations of the budget for the Roane County School System, it has been brought to my attention that there is a request for a 14-cent increase to the county property tax. This is to allow the schools’ budget to balance and schools to start on time without major cuts to programs. I support this increase.

By KEN YAGER
12th District State Senator
There is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee.
Several of these state parks are located in the 12th Senatorial District, including Indian Mountain in Jellico, Cove Lake in Caryville, Frozen Head in Wartburg, Norris Dam in Lake City, Cumberland Trail in Caryville and Pickett in Jamestown, as well as the Alvin C. York Historic Park in Pall Mall.
In fact, the 12th District may have more state parks located in it than any other.

Have you ever seen a dog fight between three or more of these normally docile animals?
Believe me, it can be fierce and not a pretty sight.
A canine free-for-all can mean major injuries to every participant.
And the unwary human who tries to stop the fray can be much the worse for wear; his own pet may savagely attack him in the excitement of the battle.
Assad’s Syria is like a dog fight, and if the U.S. enters the fray directly we may see all the warring parties turn on the U.S. forces at some point.

The Constitution of the United States, Article 3, Section 3, Sub-section 1, says: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or, in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”

We had a visitor recently, one that was neither invited nor expected.
It was of the reptilian types, 5 feet long and slim with a mottled gray and black skin. It seems the storm door that has recently been closing slowly, and sometimes not completely, left just the right amount of space for it to slither into our living room.
I saw its tail disappearing as I reached for the door to enter.
“Snake!” I warned, and stepped gingerly into the house. There it was on the hardwood floor, looking around as if to choose which room to inhabit.